This is the first year I've heard the term "Black Friday," and suddenly I've been hearing it everywhere. So have many of you, apparently.

I don't have much background in retail, but I have worked as Santa Claus at a major shopping mall the last couple of years, starting work a week *before* Thanksgiving, and never once heard anyone say "Black Friday" before this year.

I don't doubt that it's been an insider's term for years and years, but it seems to have been revealed to the general public quite suddenly this year.